Austin Psychological Assessment Center

About Psychological and Emotional Issues

Psychological Problems and Mood Disorders Defined Psychological problems include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, eating disorders, and thought disorders. In addition, more ingrained behavior patterns called personality disorders can be included in this category. While everyone experiences emotional ups and downs in life, if a person’s mood, worries, or relationship patterns begin to interfere significantly with their day-to-day functioning, a psychological disorder may be present. Some indications of a psychological or emotional (mood) disorder include: Difficulty falling or staying asleep Drastic changes in appetite or weight Persistent unwelcome thoughts or worries Irritability and/or anger outbursts Difficulty holding a job Sudden decrease in school or work performance Frequent episodes of unexpected or uncontrollable crying Loss of interest in activities Compulsive behavior Seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear Counseling or psychotherapy has been shown to help people overcome these problems. For some individuals, psychiatric medication in combination with counseling/psychotherapy can be useful as well. While many factors contribute to positive outcomes, understanding the nature of the problem is an important first step to effectively addressing it. Assessments for Psychological or Emotional Reasons When a child or adult’s behavior begins to impair his or her functioning at home, work, or school, a comprehensive psychological assessment may be warranted. Sadness, anxiety, lack of focus, irritability, and impulsive behavior may be related to many different causes. A thorough evaluation of personality features and current emotional and behavior concerns can provide clarity and options as you search for solutions. Psychological assessments for emotional reasons can be used to: Obtain accommodations or special services in school or college (e.g., special education or 504 services) Clarify how learning disabilities are related to a person’s emotional or behavior concerns Assist in making an accurate diagnosis when the source of the problem is unclear. For example, when trying to distinguish whether behavior concerns are the result of ADD/ADHD or a mood disorder such as depression or bipolar disorder Obtain recommendations for managing difficult emotional or behavior problems What is Involved in an Assessment Assessments for psychological and emotional reasons include a thorough review of a client’s history, a comprehensive clinical interview, standardized questionnaires and checklists, as well as more projective measures and tests to clarify diagnoses and personality features. A brief screening or full assessment of intellectual and academic abilities may be included as well. When to Consider an Assessment Versus Therapy A comprehensive psychological assessment is not needed for all emotional and behavioral concerns. Often the problems and solutions can be identified through psychotherapy/counseling, especially when the source of the problems is fairly clear or already known. However, to obtain specialized services through certain school or government programs or when the problems are many and complex, a psychological assessment is beneficial and often required.
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Austin Psychological Assessment Center, Austin Texas Austin ADHD, Austin ADD Evaluations
6012 W. William Cannon Dr., B-103, Austin, Texas 78749	Updated: April 23, 2008